Automatic window awning



F A. ANTON AUTOMATIC WINDOW AWNING May 13, 1930.

Filed Feb. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

May 13, 1930. F A. ANTON 1,

AUTOMA'I IC WINDOW AWNING Filed Feb. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TORNEY S.

Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES FREDERICK A. ANTON, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS AUTOMATIC WINDOW AWNING Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. 168,035.

This invention relates to window awnings of that class in which the awning fabric is wound or unwound upon a roller, and adapted in the latter condition, to provide an upright or straight portion and an inclined visor portion.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an awning of the general character outlined in which the visor when formed may be positioned at any desired point interme diate the height of a window and in which the visor is positively locked against accidental collapse by a strong gust of wind or the like.

Another object is to provide means for sustaining the weight of the awning frame during the collapsing movement of the visor, as with all awnings of this general type with which I am familiar the awning frame is free to fall downwardly, usually before the visor has been half collapsed. It will be readily apparent that with a large awning where the awning frame weighs considerably, the sudden arrest of the frame by the fabric leads to rapid deterioration and also leads to the breaking of parts and the loosening of the roller supports from the frame of the building to which the awning is attached.

\Vith the general objects named in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and organization of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a face view of an awning enibodying the invention with the visor positioned at the top of a window.

Figure 2 is a side view of the awning in the position shown in Figure 1 and illustrates the unbraced side of the visor frame, although it is to be understood that this side of the frame may be braced if desired as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the braced side of the awning and illustrates in full lines the position of the parts while the awning is being lowered preliminary to the formation of the visor, and illustrates in dotted lines the completed visor positioned at the bottom of the window.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the braced side of the awning after the visor has been positioned substantially at the top of the window.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the operating parts of the awning and illustrates in full lines the commencement of the tripping operation and in dotted lines an intermediate point. in the collapsing movement of the tripped parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the drawings, 1 and 2 re-- spectively indicate a pair of parallel side bars secured to opposite sides of a window opening at their lower ends by suitable brackets 1 and 2 respectively, said bars com prising a support on which the awning frame is adapted to slide. The bar 1 is secured at its upper end to the lower end of a. bracket 3 secured to the window frame at the top of the window opening, and the bar 2 which projects further into the wind-ow opening than the bar 1, is secured to an offset portion 4 carried by a similar bracket 5 secured adjacent the upper end of the window opening. Journaled in said brackets 3 and 5 is a roller 6 on which the fabric of the awning is rolled, said roller being supplied with a suitable pulley 7 for reception of the operating cord or cable 7.

Slidably mounted on the bars 1 and 2 is a pair of similar awning frames 8, the upper ends of said awning frames being interconnected by a cross bar 9, under which the fabric 10 of the awning is adapted to be passed, the free end of the fabric being secured to the U-shaped visor frame l0 pivoted at its ends to the lower ends of the awning frames 8. The visor frame 10 is adapted to swing in an are as common and when in substantially horizontal position is braced by a buggy brace comprising a pair of links 11 and 12 pivotally connected together, the end of the link 11 being pivoted to the awning frame and the end of the link 12 being pivotally connected to one of the side arms of the visor frame 10.

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It will be evident that a similar brace construction may be provided, if desired, for the opposite side arm of the visor frame and that a double brace will probably be found the preferred construction for large awnings. The brace construction is such that if force is applied to the visor bar to pivot or collapse the same, the common pivot of the braces 11 and 12 tends to break inwardly toward the window opening, but such breaking action is prevented as the link 12 is in the same verti cal plane as the awning frame 8 and its end therefore contacts with said frame 8 and forms a rigid joint. The joint cannot break upwardly as the gravitative weight of the pivoted ends of the links resists such movement.

When the parts are in collapsed position as illustrated in Figure 3, it will be noted that practically all of the awning fabric may be rolled on the roller 6 when turned in the proper direction. When the roller is released the window awning frames 8 slide downwardly by their own weight or may be pulled downwardly if a spring roller is employed, the frames sliding on and being guided by the parallel bars 1 and 2. \Vhen the awning frame reaches the bottom limit of its travel and is stopped by abutment with the brackets 1 and 2 the weight of the pivoted visor frame 10 is sufficient to cause the formation of the visor as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3, the buggy brace 11 and 12 immediately assuming its operative position. lVith the visor thus formed, it will be apparent that the operator may roll up the straight portion of the fabric between the bar 9 and the roller to effect elevation of the visor to the desired position intermediate the length of the window opening, and that gusts of wind and the like cannot break the joint 11 and 12 and effect the accidental closure of the visor.

In order to provide automatic means whereby the visor may be collapsed when the awning has reached its upper limit of travel, a guide sleeve 13 is pivoted on the pivot connecting the brace members 11 and 12. and said sleeve slidingly receives one end of a trip lever 14 pivoted at a point intermediate its length to the frame 8 which carries the brace links 11 and 12 (see Figure 4), said trip lexer 14 terminating at its upper end in a pair of tines 15 and Id It will be noted that the tine 16 is longer than the tine 15 and that the former is so positioned that upon the upward movement of the awning frame it will strike the under side of the extension 4 of the bracket 5 and effect a pivotal movement of the lever 14 which through its guide 13 upwardly breaks the joint between the braces 11 and 12, the end of the lever 14 sliding through guide 13 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

As soon as the joint between links 11 and 12 is broken as described, the visor com mences to collapse as the visor frame 10 swings upwardly and inwardl i and if the awning frames 8 are unrestrained, a point will soon be reached where the weight of said frames overbalances the pivotal weight of the visor frame 10 lVhen the weight of the awning frames overbalances the weight of the visor frame as described, the entire structure will immediately fall downwardly on bars 1 and 2 and effect an immediate collapse of the visor. The jar or jerk which will be placed on the fabric 10 incident to permitting the fabric to catch and stop the falling of the parts places a great strain on the awning and on the supports for the roller (3. To overcome this objectionable feature of all automatic awnings of this general type, with which I am familiar, the tine 16 on the lever 14 is designed to hook over the extension 4 of the bracket 5 and sustain or suspend the weight of the entire awning assembly during the collapsing movement of the visor. Referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that during the movement of the link 11 toward a horizontal position, the fork formed by the tines 15 and 16 is more deeply receiving the extension 4, and it will be apparent that after the link 11 has passed the horizontal, the fork will commence to recede from the ex tension 4. Thus the weight of the entire awning assembly is supported by the tine 16 in engagement with the upper side of extension 4, the parts being so proportioned that the visor frame has practically assumed its vertical position, as shown in Figure 3, at the same instant that the tine 16 is disengaged from the extension 4 upon the reverse oscillation of the lever 14 by the link 11 passing upwardly beyond a horizontal position. It will thus be evident that there is no chance for the awning assembly to fall, if its complete collapse and the disengagement of tine 16 from the extension 4 are timed to occur atthe same instant.

It is believed the construction and opera tion of the awning has been so set forth as to obviate further recapitulation. It is to be no (lcrstood, however, that while I have described and claimed the preferred embodiment of the invention. I reserve the right to make all changes properly falling Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an awning. a frame for sliding frame pivoted to said awning frame, means for locking the visor frame against collapse until the awning frame has reached a predetermined point in its upward travel, and suspension means for supporting the awning frame during the collapse of the visor frame.

2. In an awning, a support, an awning frame for sliding on said support, a visor frame pivoted to said awning frame, means for locking the visor frame against collapse,

support, an awning on said support. a visor means for tripping said locking means when the awning frame has reached a predetermined point in its upward travel, and suspension means for supporting the awning frame during the tripping of the locking means.

3. In an awning, a support, an awning frame for sliding on said support, a visor frame pivoted to said awning frame, a collapsible brace between said visor frame and awning frame, means to trip said brace when the awning frame has reached a predetermined point in its upward travel, and means to support said awning frame during the tripping of the brace.

4. In an awning, a support, an awning frame for sliding on said support, a visor frame pivoted to said awning frame, a collapsible brace between said visor frame and awning frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its length to said awning frame and being adapted to trip said brace when the awning frame has reached a prescribed point in its travel, and an extension on said lever to support the awning frame during the tripping of said visor brace.

5. In an awning frame, a support, an inverted U-shaped frame slidingly mounted on said support, an awning frame pivoted to said U-shaped frame, a two-part brace between said U-shaped frame and the awning frame, and a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the upper member of the two-part brace and adapted to trip said brace when the U-shaped frame has reached a predetermined point in its upward travel.

6. In an awning frame, a support, an inverted U-shaped frame slidingly mounted on said support, an awning frame pivoted to said U-shaped frame, a brace between said U-shaped frame and the awning frame, and a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having sliding engagen'ient with the brace to effect tripping of the latter when the U-shaped frame attains a predetermined point in its up and movement.

7. In an awning, a support, an awning frame for sliding on said support, a visor frame pivoted to said awning frame, and means for locking the visor frame against collapse until the awning frame has reached a predetermined point in its upward travel: said means being formed with supporting means for the awning frame during collapse of the visor frame.

In witness whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FREDERICK A. ANTON. 

